Speaker 1: 0:19

Hey business owners out there, it feels like every day there's something new to worry about when it comes to getting your business found online. But if you heard about this ChatGPT thing, it's really shaking things up and changing the way people are searching for businesses just like yours. So today we're gonna dive deep into how ChatGPT is affecting local businesses and we've got some insights based on a recent study by Bright Local. This study really digs into how ChatGPT finds information when people are doing those local searches and let me tell you the findings are pretty interesting. For example, one of the things they found is that ChatGPT isn't relying as much on Yelp reviews or Google reviews as you might think.

Speaker 2: 0:59

Yeah, you're absolutely right. Chatgpt is becoming incredibly popular and this Bright Local study is so valuable because it helps us understand how this AI is actually working.

Speaker 1: 1:12

It's not just about those reviews anymore, which is a huge shift for local businesses. So let's talk about that study. What were some of the things that really stood out to you?

Speaker 2: 1:16

Well, the biggest takeaway for me was how much ChatGPT relies on business websites. We're talking. A full 58% of its information comes directly from websites. So, if you think about it, your website is like your digital storefront. In this new age of AI, it's the first place ChatGPT is looking to understand what your business is all about.

Speaker 1: 1:37

So it's not just about having a website anymore. It's got to be a good one, right?

Speaker 2: 1:40

Exactly and it needs to be optimized in a way that ChatGPT can easily understand. And speaking of optimization, have you heard about Rainmaker Reputation AI CRM? They have some really great resources, specifically when it comes to schema markup, which can really help ChatGPT understand your website content.

Speaker 1: 1:59

Schema markup. I've heard that term before, but I'm not sure I totally get it.

Speaker 2: 2:02

Well, think of it like this. It's basically a way to speak Google's language. It helps search engines and AI like ChatGPT understand what your content is actually about. So for local businesses, you can use it to provide specific details about your services, your hours, your location, even customer reviews, and ChatGPT can then use this information to better understand your business and connect you with potential customers.

Speaker 1: 2:22

So it's almost like giving ChatGPT a roadmap of your website.

Speaker 2: 2:25

Exactly and Rainmaker Reputation. Ai CRM can make implementing schema markup a lot easier. They're doing some really innovative things in this space to help businesses adapt to these AI-driven searches.

Speaker 1: 2:38

This is great stuff. So, besides websites, what else did the Bright Local study highlight?

Speaker 2: 2:42

Well, this was another really interesting finding. The second most important source of information for ChatGPT after websites are mentions in reputable online publications, things like Wikipedia, news articles, industry blogs.

Speaker 1: 2:58

These mentions make up about 27% of the results, so basically it's like getting a stamp of approval from trusted sources. Online Makes sense. Chatgpt would see that as valuable.

Speaker 2: 3:06

Exactly. It shows ChatGPT that your business is credible and has authority beyond just your own website.

Speaker 1: 3:12

It's interesting, though, because that's a big shift from how traditional search engines have worked. They've always been so focused on directories and user reviews.

Speaker 2: 3:19

Right, but it seems like ChatGPT is looking for a different kind of validation, more about quality over quantity.

Speaker 1: 3:26

And speaking of quantity, it's kind of surprising that platforms like Yelp and Facebook weren't really mentioned as major sources for ChatGPT.

Speaker 2: 3:34

Yeah, that was a bit of a surprise, but again it points to this idea that ChatGPT is looking for those signals of authority and trustworthiness. It's not just about how many reviews you have. It's about the quality of the information out there about your business.

Speaker 1: 3:48

So what you're saying is, instead of worrying so much about every single Yelp review, businesses should be focusing on building a strong website and getting mentioned in those reputable sources.

Speaker 2: 3:58

Absolutely. It's all about building a digital presence that ChatGPT sees as inherently valuable and trustworthy. I like that building a digital presence that chat GPT sees as inherently valuable and trustworthy.

Speaker 1: 4:04

I like that building a digital presence. It really feels like chat.

Speaker 2: 4:07

Gpt is changing the game when it comes to online visibility it definitely is, and the good news is that there are tools and strategies that can help businesses navigate this new landscape and even thrive in it well, we've covered a lot of ground already, and I, for one, am feeling a lot more confident about tackling chat GPT and making sure my business can be found.

Speaker 1: 4:26

But we're not done yet. Make sure to stick around for part two, where we'll be diving even deeper into how to optimize your online presence for this whole ChatGPT revolution. See you soon.

Speaker 2: 4:37

So we've been talking about how important a strong website is in this new world of chat, GPT. It's really the foundation for getting found online.

Speaker 1: 4:45

Absolutely.

Speaker 2: 4:46

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 4:46

But it's not enough to just have any old website right. We need to make sure it's speaking chat GPT's language.

Speaker 2: 4:50

Exactly, we need to optimize our websites for chat, gpt's way of searching, and that starts with understanding how it finds and processes information.

Speaker 1: 4:59

Okay, so how do we do that? How do we give ChatGPT what it wants?

Speaker 2: 5:03

Well, think of ChatGPT like this it's a super intelligent researcher that's eager to learn everything about your business, and it loves detailed, well-structured and informative content.

Speaker 1: 5:14

So we need to go beyond just having a pretty home page. We need to get substance depth right.

Speaker 2: 5:19

Exactly, chatgpt wants to see that you're a real expert in your field. It wants to see that you can provide valuable insights and answer people's questions.

Speaker 1: 5:27

It's almost like we're creating a guidebook for ChatGPT to understand our business.

Speaker 2: 5:32

I like that analogy and, just like a good guidebook, your website should be organized logically. Use clear headings, subheadings, bullet points. Make it easy for ChatGPT to digest all that information.

Speaker 1: 5:43

Structure and organization are key got it.

Speaker 2: 5:45

Oh, and here's another tip chat. Gpt loves FAQ sections, so think about those common questions your customers ask all the time and create a dedicated page on your website with clear and concise answers that makes a lot of sense. We're basically feeding chat GPT the information it's looking for exactly, and by anticipating those questions, you're demonstrating your expertise and building trust with chat GPT the information it's looking for Exactly, and by anticipating those questions, you're demonstrating your expertise and building trust with chat GPT and with potential customers too.

Speaker 1: 6:09

This is all starting to make a lot more sense to me. But what about those mentions in reputable online publications? How do we go about getting those?

Speaker 2: 6:17

Well, that's where being proactive and building relationships comes in. You need to think about the publications that are really respected in your industry and then find ways to connect with the people who write for them journalists, bloggers, influencers.

Speaker 1: 6:31

So we need to position ourselves as thought leaders. Show them that we're worth writing about.

Speaker 2: 6:35

Exactly. Get involved in industry forums. Share your insights on social media. Look for opportunities to contribute guest articles or blog posts.

Speaker 1: 6:44

It's all about showing our expertise and making ourselves visible to the right people.

Speaker 2: 6:48

Right and remember building those relationships takes time and effort, but if you're consistent and strategic about it you can start to earn those valuable endorsements that ChatGPT really values.

Speaker 1: 6:59

This is all great advice but I have to admit it can feel a little overwhelming. Optimizing our website, creating content, building relationships it's a lot to juggle.

Speaker 2: 7:08

I hear you, and that's where tools like Rainmaker Reputation AI CRM can be so helpful. They offer a really comprehensive platform that can help businesses manage their online presence Everything from schema markup to reputation monitoring, to outreach Sounds like they can take a lot off our plates. Exactly. They can help you stay organized, track your progress and really make the most of all these new opportunities that ChatGPT is creating.

Speaker 1: 7:31

I'm definitely going to check them out. So, to recap, we need to treat ChatGPT like a discerning reader, give it the valuable, well-structured content it wants and then build our credibility by getting endorsements from those reputable sources, and tools like Rainmaker can help us manage all of that more effectively.

Speaker 2: 7:50

MELANIE WARRICK you got it. It's all about adapting to this new landscape and making ChatGPT work for you.

Speaker 1: 7:55

MARK MIRCHANDANI Well, this has been an incredibly insightful deep dive. So far, we've learned so much about how to optimize our online presence for ChatGPT, but there's still more to explore. So stick around for part three, where we'll be looking ahead to the future of AI-powered search and what it means for businesses like yours. See you there. All right, welcome back to our deep dive on ChatGPT and making sure your local business is ready for it.

Speaker 2: 8:21

Yeah, it's been great exploring how this whole AI thing is shaking things up for businesses.

Speaker 1: 8:25

We've covered a lot of ground already optimizing our websites, making great content, getting those mentions in reputable places.

Speaker 2: 8:32

Right, and it really highlights that things are constantly evolving. If you want to stay ahead of the curve, you've got to be ready to adapt.

Speaker 1: 8:38

So true. So where do we go from here? What's next for this AI-powered search stuff, and what does it mean for us local businesses trying to keep up?

Speaker 2: 8:49

Well, the future of AI search is exciting and full of potential. I mean we're already seeing a shift towards more personalized and conversational searches.

Speaker 1: 8:57

Conversational, like we're going to be having full-on chats with our search engines.

Speaker 2: 9:00

It's closer than you think. These AI assistants, like ChatGPT are getting really smart. They can understand natural language and they're starting to respond in ways that feel more human.

Speaker 1: 9:10

Wow. So how does this affect us local businesses?

Speaker 2: 9:13

Well, it means that your online reputation and giving people a really great experience online is more important than ever.

Speaker 1: 9:20

So it's not just about popping up the search results anymore. It's about creating a presence that really connects with people and builds trust.

Speaker 2: 9:28

Exactly. It's a whole new way of thinking about online visibility.

Speaker 1: 9:31

It almost sounds like we're all going to have to become our own little media companies, creating engaging and informative content that also entertains people.

Speaker 2: 9:40

You got it. And the businesses that get this, that prioritize quality content and use tools like we talked about before Rainmaker, reputation, ai, crm to manage it all those are the businesses that are going to thrive.

Speaker 1: 9:53

It's all about adapting to new technology and refining our approach.

Speaker 2: 9:57

The only thing that's constant in online search is change, but by staying curious, experimenting and using data to make decisions, we can navigate this whole new world and make sure our businesses are successful.

Speaker 1: 10:09

Well, listeners, that's a wrap on our deep dive into ChatGPT and what it means for your local business. There's a whole new world out there, but with the knowledge we've talked about today, you're ready to tackle it head on.

Speaker 2: 10:20

And remember the most important thing is to never stop learning. The online world is always changing, so stay curious and keep experimenting.

Speaker 1: 10:28

And keep those websites optimized. Thanks for tuning in everyone.